20 Quotes from ‘Phenomenal Woman,’ Maya Angelou

Today, we honour a woman who has enriched our nation and our people with such wealth of mind and spirit. She taught us wisdom, she taught us self-worth.

At the ripe old age of 86, Maya Angelo passed away and an unfillable void created.

Maya Angelou died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, said her literary agent, Helen Brann. Angelou had been “frail” and suffering from heart problems, the agent said. (CNN)

In honour of this “phenomenal woman,” Gospel Today would like to share 20 inspiring quotes or “Mayaisms” from the late, great woman. May she rest in peace.

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

WomensCouncil.org

If you only have on smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don’t be surly at home, then go out and start grinning ‘good morning’ at total strangers.

MayaAngelou.com

We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.

PryorityPanning.com

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

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I am grateful to have been loved and to be loved now and to be able to love, because that liberates. Love liberates. It doesn’t just hold–that’s ego. It doesn’t bind. Love says, “I love you. I love you if you’re in China. I love you if you’re across town. I love you if you’re in Harlem. I love you. I would like to be near you. I’d like to have your arms around me. I’d like to hear your voice in my ear. But that’s not possible now, so I love you. Go.”

ABCNews.Go.com

Love is like a virus: it can happen to anybody at anytime.

TheFrugalFeminista.com

I can be changed by what happened to me; but I refuse to be reduced by it.

Achievement.org

Nothing will work unless you do.

RobTShepherd.Tripod.com

Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.

Oprah.com

The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.

BlackDoctor.org

If you are always trying to be normal, you will never realize how amazing you can be.

Achievement.org

A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Essence.com

The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.

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I do not trust people who don’t love themselves and yet tell me, “I love you.” There is an African saying which is: “Be careful when a naked person offers you a shirt.”

WesWyatt.com

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size. But when I start to tell them, they think I’m telling lies. I say, “It’s in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. I’m a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal Woman, that’s me.”

Howard.edu

I’ve learned that making a living is not the same as making a life.

LATimesBlogs.LATimes.com

All great artists draw from the same resource: the human heart, which tells that we are more alike than we are unalike.

TheAllNews.com

The first time someone shows you who are they are, believe them.

PopWatch.EW.com

All men are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened.

Desiree M. Mondesir is the Managing Editor for Gospel Today. She pens the Godly Government columns. She is also the author of Godly Government, Deborah: The Ultimate Jezebel-Preventative, The Origin of Demons, and other works. She is also the CEO and Founder of Desired Assistance virtual writing and editing company including its creative branch, iSubCreate. Desiree loves to inspire others and challenge toxic, ungodly mindsets. To learn more about Desiree, please connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. You may also subscribe to http://DesireeMMondesir.com to get your free copy of The Origin of Demons!